Plating attachment



April 17, 1928. 1,666,123 I J. J. EGAN ET AL PLATING ATTACHMENT Filed April 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1928.

J. J. EGAN ET AL PLATING ATTACHMENT Filed April 20, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I E Egg? TORS ATTORNEY April 17, 1928.

J J EGAN ET AL PLATINAGA ATTACHMENT Filed April 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LE NTORS ({g?6f7 672:?0/ c ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN J. EGA A D EUGENE GBEGOR, or OR HAMPTON, nAs'saonUsET aassieNoas To McCALLUM HOSIERY COMPANY, OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. 003,-

IPOBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PLATING ATTACHMENT.

Application filed mm 20, 1925. Serial No. 24,408.

colors as they usually are, the front and the back of the fabric are of different colors. In making this sortjof fabric it has been possible by a proper shaping of the dividers or sinkers between appropriate needles to 5 produce at those points vertical stripes in which the color at'the back is brought to the front and vice versa, .as'shown for instance in the patent to Tebbutt, No; 1,145,522.

The principal ob ect of our, invention 15 to provide means w ereby the relative positions of the threads may be reversed, according to a predetermined plan, so that after a portion of fabric has been knitted with one color-ion top, the threads may be reversed, anda portion knitted with the other color on top, and the color which was on the face at the back. In this way a horizontally striped plaited effect may be obtained with the colors alternating as desired.

\Vith this object in view our invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For convenience we have shown the invention asapplied to a straight knitting machine of the general type known as a Cotton machine, in which the fabric of the stocking is knit as a web, suitably shaped and narrowed, and the stocking is then made up by stitching the edges of the web together. Since this type .of machine is well-j known, we have shown in the drawings only such parts as are necessary for an understanding of this invention, thus avoiding confusion in the drawings and making it possible to set forth the invention more simply and clearly. w In these drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in all views:

Figure 1 is a partial transverse section of aknitting. machine, showing in elevation the parts embodying the invention as applied thereto; V

Fig. 2 is a partial front view showing the pattern chain, and the cam levers actuated thereby; p v v Fig. 3 is a partial'front view of the machlne with parts broken away,fs'howing the parts of the invention asapglied to the friction and thr'ead carrier re s; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing in semi-diagrammatic. form therelative position of the friction arms andthe lugs and forks on the thread carrier rods;

Fig. 5 is a detail partly in section showing the relation between the friction arm 15 and the 'cooperating'carrierrod lugs, viewed from the end of the machine;

v Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the friction arm 13 and the forks on the carrier rods engaged thereby;'

Fig. 7 shows a simple form of fabric as made in accordance with this invention; and,

Fig. 8 shows another. type of fabric that can be made in accordance with the inven tion.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown some .of the essential parts" of the machine, namely, the framework 1 and the. rack 2 in which a number of carrier rods, including the carrier rods 3 and 4-a're longitudinally slidable a friction rod'5 supported in the usual manner upon a suitable slide 6; the needles 7, dividers or sinkers 8; and lace points arms 10. The carrier rods 3 and-4 are provided with thread guides 11 and 12, respectively, in the usual manner.

Asris well-known, in machines of this type there is usually axfriction arm, 13 for each 9 supported .in the usual. manner by particular purpose, and would not be used in I connection with any other carrier rod than the rod 4. I

In carrying out the present invention, it is desired that at times the friction arm .13 may actuate the carrier rod 4; but at other times it is desired that the said friction arm actuate the carrier rod 3. To this end the carrier rod 3 is provided with a fork 17 which extends upwardly and inwardly of the ma.- chine to a point approximately above the fork 16; and the friction arm 13 may if desired be provided with an extension 18 (Fig. 6), so that when the friction arm 13 is raised sufliciently to become disengaged from the fork16, a slight further upward movement causes it to engage the fork 17 (Fig. 1), which is fixed to the carrier rod 3 in the same longitudinal position as the fork 16 upon the carrier rod 4.

Referring to the detail in 6 it will be seen that when-the friction arm 13 is in the lower position, it engages the fork 16 of the carrier rod 4 as shown in full lines. and when in the upper position it engages the fork 17 of the carrier rod 3, as shown in dash lines. Thus when the friction arm 13 is in the full line position as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the carried rod 4 is actuated thereby, and when the friction arm 13 is in the dash line position of Fig.6 the carrier rod 3 is actuated thereby.

The movement of the friction arm 13 from one position to the other is effected by means of the mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 for actuating the arm 19 which is'ke ed to the friction rod 5, so as to rotate the riction rod 5 through an are sufficient to take the friction arm 13 from engagement with one fork, 16 or 17, to engagement with the other.

Inasmuch as it is desired that the movement from one position tothe other be effected from time to time in accordance with a predetermined plan, the motion is prefer ably obtained from a pattern chain 20. This chain may be driven by a sprocket wheel 21, which is moved ahead a notch with each reciprocation of the friction rod 5 in thewell-known manner (the power connections not being shown), the other end of the chain being mounted upon a small adjustable sprocket 22 held in position by a spring 23 extending to and attached to the frame of the machine at a suitable place, in the usual manner. The pattern chain is provided with lugs'or cams 24, 25 which are preferably arranged in two rows so as to lift the cam levers 26, 27 which are arranged side by side and carried by a pin 28 mounted upon the frame '1. g

Arranged to be actuated by the cam levers 26, 27 and to transmit the motion therefrom to the rear of the machine are a pair of levers 29, 30, actuated by the cam levers 26,

27 respectively. These levers are suitably fulcrumed upon a pin 31 carried by a bracket 32 from the frame -1.

Mounted upon the fixed rod 33 of the machine is a lever 34 extending in an up and down direction, at the lower end of which is a pin 35 adapted to be engaged by the levers 29 and 30 in order that the lever 34 may be moved backward or forward by the levers 29 or 30. To this end the lever 29 has a downwardly turned end 36 and the lever 30 has an upwardly turned end 37. The end 36 of the lever. 29 extends beyond the pin 35 and rests on the far side thereof, so that when the front end of the lever 29 is pushed upwardly by the cam lever 26, the end 36 is brought downward to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus drawing the pin forward and moving the lever 34 correspondingly to the position shown. hen the lever 30 is moved upward by the cam lever 27, the end 37 thereof is brought downward from the -position shown in full lines, and pushes the pin 35 backward. at'the same time causing the end 36 of. the lever 29 to rise to its other extreme position, and throwing the lower end of the lever 34 backward and the upper end forward.

At the upper end of the lever 34 there is hinged a. hook member 38, which is prevented from dropping below the desired position by a lug 39 upon the lever 34, this lug holding the hook member 38 so that the hook 40 thereof is in position to be engaged by a tapered pin 41 carried by the arm 19 on the friction rod 5, when the friction rod is at the end of its stroke.

Thus at the end of a stroke of the friction rod 5. the parts are in position as shown so that they-may be actuated by one of the cams 24, 25 to throw the friction rod from one position to the other, and thus cause the friction arm 13 to disengage one of the forks 16. 17 and to engage the other as desired.

The friction rod 5 carries a pair of additional friction arms 14, 15, arranged to move between two positions simultaneously with the movement of the friction arm 13. For cooperation with the friction arms 14, 15 the carrier rods 3 and 4 are provided with lugs 42, 43 respectively for cooperation with the friction arm 14; and 44, 45 respectively for cooperation with the friction arm 15. The lugs 42, 43 on the carrier. rods 3, 4 respectively are disposed thereon in the same relative longitudinal position; and the same is true of the lugs 44, 45. These lugs 42, 44 on the carrier rod 3 and the lugs 43, 45

,on the carrier rod 4 are thus spaced apart the same distance; and this distance is less than the distance between the friction arms 14*, 15, the lugs being between the friction arms, so that after the parts have completed their travel to the right they are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 4. On the next stroke to the left, the friction arm 14 travels the distance from the position shown to the position of the. lugs 42,-43 before it picks up one or other of these 'lugs'to move the carrier rod to which that lug is attached; and in starting a stroke to the right, the friction arm 15 has to travel the same distance a are in their lowest or forward position, as

shown in Fig. 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5, they engage with the lugs 42, 44 of the carrier rod 3, and clear the lugs 43, 45 of the carrier rod 4; and when the friction arms 14 and 15 are in their upper or rear posithe lugs at the end of the stroke, so that the P -rod while the pin 41 1s in tion (dash lines, Fig. 5), they are in line to engage the lugs. 43, 45 of the carrier rod 4 and clear the lugs 42, .44 of the carrier rod 3.

It will now be apparent that-in the upper or rear position of the friction arms (Fig. 1) the friction arm 13 engages and actuates the carrier rod 3 through the fork 17 while the carrier rod 4 is being reciprocated by means of the friction'arms 14, 15- acting through the lugs-43, 45;and when the friction arms are thrown to their forward or lowermost positions (Fig. 4) the conditions are reversed and the carrier rod 4 is actuated through the friction arm 13, engaging the fork 16, while the carrier rod 3 is actuated by means of the friction arms 14, 15 cooperating with the lugs 42, 44.

Thus it will appear that whichever of the carrier rods, 3, 4 is actuated by the friction arm 13, that rod travels with the friction rod 5, whereas the other carrier arm is actuated through the friction arms 14 and 15 and lags behind while the friction arm 14 or 15 travels the distance from its position at the end of the stroke to the position of thread carrier on this rod lags behind the one driven by the friction arm 13, and lays the thread carried thereby on top of the thread carried by the thread carrier on the rod actuated by the friction arm 13.

While in describing the invention the operation has been pointed out to a considerable extent, it may be well to summarize the operation of the machine as follows:

Assume that the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, in which the friction arms 13, 14,

15 are in raised position (dashlines, Figs,

5 and 6), so that the friction arm 13 is in engagement with the fork 17, so as to actuate the carrier rod 3 and lay the thread carried by this rod, which for convenlence we may assume is a blue thread, first, in the needles, while the thread carried by the carrier rod 4, which for convenience we may call a brown thread, lags behind the blue thread, the carrier rod 4-being actuated through the lugs by the friction arms 14, 15, so that the brown thread will show up on top as the fabric is being knit. In this position the arm 19 is in its back position,

and the lever 34 and the hook levers 29 and 30 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

So long as these parts remain undisturbed, the knitting action ofthe machine goes on with the friction rod reciprocating back and forth, carrying with it the thread carrier rod 3 with the blue thread which is laid in the needles by the thread carrier 11; and the thread carrier rod 4 follows in each direction, when picked up by the arm 14 or 15, a short distance behind the rod 3, so that the carrier 12 laysthe brown thread in on top of the blue thread after it, and the fabric is knit with the brown thread showing up on top and the blue thread underneath.

Let us assume that it is desired to knit a fabric such as'that shown in Fig. 7 in which alternating horizontal stripes of equal width are desired.

In this case the cams 24, 25 on the pattern chain 20 are set equal distances apart, first one in the outer row, and then one in the inner row. The knitting of the first row 50 showing brown on top will continue until the desired width is obtained, at which time the cam 25 come into contact with the depending portion of the cam lever 27, raising the cam lever 27, thus raising the end of the.

lever 30 in contact therewith, and bringing the end 37 downward, thus pushing the pin '35 and the lower end of-the lever 34 backward, and bringing the upper end of the lever 34 forward so'that the hook member. 38, in-engagement with the pin 41 upon the friction rod 5 rotates the friction rod 5 sufliciently to bring the friction arms from their upper position (Fig. 1) to their lower or forward position (Fig. 4). .The movement of these levers i of course timed to take lace at the end of a stroke of the friction engagement with the hook 40.- A

This brings thefriction'arm 13 into contact with the fork 16 on the carrier rod 4; and brings the friction arms 14 and 15 into line for engagement with the lugs 42, 44 on the carrier rod 3; so that the carrier rod 4 will now travel with the friction rod 5 and v the brown thread will be laid in first; while.

ios

arm 14 or 15 according to the direction ofv travel, and-the blue threadwill be laid in on top of the brown thread, and as the fabric is formed the blue thread will show up on top as shown in Fig. 7 by the reference character 51.

Thus the fabric will continue to be knitted with the -blue thread on top and the brown thread underneath until a cam 24' on the outer row of the pattern chain actuates the cani'lever 26 and causes the aforesaid parts to resume the position shown 1n Fig. 1,

whereupon the machine-commences to knit the section 52 in which the brown-thread is again on top and the blue thread underneath.

The type of fabric shown in Fig. 7 is one of the simplest types that can be produced by means ofthis mechanism. If it vis desired that the width of the stripes be greater orless, this is effected by changing the position of the lugs 24 upon the pattern chain in the well-known manner; and in this way any desired width of stripe may be obtained, and any desired alternation; that is to say, the stripesneed not be of equal width, but may be a long stripe followed by a short stripe, and another long one, or a long stripe followed by a plurality of alternating color short stripes, and then a long stripe, etc.

An effective plaid effect may be obtained such as that shown in Fig. 8 by the use of this invention inconnection with the use of dividers or sinkers of the type referred to in the" first paragraph hereof which have the effect of reversing the thread so as to produce a vertical strip-e in plated goods. When suclr dividers or sinkers are used in connection with the apparatus of this in vention, the result is not a continuous vertical stripe of a single color, but a vertical stripe which alternates in color, so that in the section where the horizontal stripe is blue the vertical stripe will be brown; and Where the horizontal stripe is brown the vertical stripe will be blue, producing an effect such as that illustrated in Fig. 8.

The patterns shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are as stated simply illustrative of the patterns obtainable in plated wear by the use of this invention.

Having now described our invention, we claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising a friction rod, friction arms thereon, thread carrier rods, each of Said thread carrier rods having a fork for engaging one of said friction arms to travel therewith, and lugs for engagement with said friction arms'to perinit the said carrier rods to lag, said friction arms, forks and lugs being so arranged that when one of said friction arms is in engagement with the fork of any one of "said carrier rods, the

carrier rods for the following threads are actuated by the engagement of said friction arms witli their said lugs.

2. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising a slidably and rotat ably mounted friction rod, friction arms thereon, thread carrier rods having forks and lugs thereon, and means for rotating said friction rod to bring one of said friction arms into engagement with the fork of a selected carrier rod, and certain of said friction arms into operative position with and into operative thread respect to the lugs of said other carrier rods.

3. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising a slidably and rotatably mounted friction rod, friction arms thereon, two thread-carrier rods each'having forks and lugs thereon, the fork on one of said rods being extended past the fork on the other, whereby rotation of the said friction rod to raise the said friction arms brings said arms into engagement with the said fork of one of said carrier rods and into operative position with respect to the said lugs of the other, and'lowering the said friction arms brings them into engagement with the fork of the second said carrier rod position with respect to the lugs of the first.

4. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising a slidably mountedfriction rod; frictionarms thereon; thread carrier rods having forks and lugs thereon; said friction rod being rotatable to bring one of said friction arms into engagement with the fork of either of said carrier rods and said friction arms into operative position with respect to the lugs of the other said carrier rods; an arm fixed to said friction rod; a pattern chain; lugs thereon; and means arranged to beoperated by said lugs to actuate said arm fixed to said friction rod.

5. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising a slidably mounted friction rod; friction arms thereon; thread carrier rods having forks and lugs thereon;

stroke of the rod, whereby said rod may be rotatably moved from one position to another by the-action of said cams.

6. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising carrier rods having thread guides thereon, forks and lugs there-.

on,-a slidably and rotatably mounted friction rod, friction arms thereon for engagement with said forks and lugs and means to engage said friction red at the end of its stroke and rotatably move it from one position to another to bring about selective engagement of said arms with said forks and ugs.

7. In a stocking knitting 'machine the combination comprising carrier-rods having iguides thereon, forks and lugs thereon, a s dably and rotatably mounted friction rod, friction armsthereon for engagement with said forks and lugs, an arm fixed to said friction rod, a hook member adapted to be engaged by said arm at the end of a stroke of said friction rod, and a lever suitably mounted on the frame carrying said hook member, whereby rotation of said friction rod from one position to another may be effected to bring about selective engagement of said arms with said forks and lugs.

8. Ill a stocking knitting vmachine the combination comprising carrier rods having thread guides thereon, forks and lugs there on, a slidably and rotatably mounted friction rod, friction arms thereon for engage ment With said forks and lugs, an arm fixed to said friction rod, a hook member adapted to be engaged by said arm at the end of a stroke of said friction rod, a lever suitably mounted. on the frame carrying said hook member, and means for moving said lever to effect rotation of said friction rod from one position to another according to a predetermined plan to bring about selective en- 1gagement of said arms with said forks and u s.v

In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising carrier rods having thread guides thereon, forks and lugs thereon, a 'slidably and rotatably mounted friction rod, friction arms thereon forengagement with said forks and lugs, an arm fixed to said friction rod, a hook member adapted to be engaged by said arm at the end of a stroke of said friction rod, a lever carrying said hook member suitably mount- 1 ed on the frame of said machine, saidlever having laterally extending studs, hook levers in engagement with said studs, and means for operating one or other of said hook levers to move the aforesaid lever and effect rotation of said friction rod from one position to another to bring about selective engagement of said arms with said forks and lugs. i

'10. In a stocking knitting machine the combination comprising carrier rods having thread guides thereon, forks and lugs thereon, a slidably and rotatably mounted friction rod,- friction arms thereon for engagement with said forks and lugs,'an arm fixed to said friction rod, a hook member adapted to be engaged by said arm-at the end of a stroke of said friction rod, a lever carrying said hook member suitably mounted on the frame of said machine, said lever having laterally extending studs, hook levers in engagement with said studs, a pattern chain, and cams thereon adapted to actuate said hook levers to move the aforesaid lever and effect rotation of said fric-- tion rod from one position to another to bring about selective engagement of said arms with said forks and lugs.

In testimony'whereof we have signed our names to this specification;

JOHN J. EGAN.

EUGENE GREGOB. 

